insignia

[ in-sig-nee-uh ]
See synonyms for insignia on Thesaurus.com
noun,formally a plural of insigne, but usually used as a singular with plural in·sig·ni·a or in·sig·ni·as.
  1. a badge or distinguishing mark of office or honor: a military insignia.

  2. a distinguishing mark or sign of anything: an insignia of mourning.

Origin of insignia

1
1640–50; <Latin, plural of insigne mark, badge, noun use of neuter of insignis distinguished (by a mark); see in-2, sign

usage note For insignia

Insignia, originally the plural of Latin insigne, began to be used as a singular in the 18th century, and the plural insignias appeared shortly thereafter. All uses— insignia as a singular or plural and insignias as a plural—are fully standard. The singular insigne still occurs, but insignia is more common.

Words Nearby insignia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use insignia in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for insignia

insignia

/ (ɪnˈsɪɡnɪə) /


nounplural -nias or -nia
  1. a badge or emblem of membership, office, or dignity

  2. a distinguishing sign or mark

Origin of insignia

1
C17: from Latin: marks, badges, from insignis distinguished by a mark, prominent, from in- ² + signum mark
  • Also called (rare): insigne (ɪnˈsɪɡniː)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012